Trump FCC lets Nexstar buy Tegna and blow way past 39% TV ownership cap
Ars Technica • • general
Key Points:
- The FCC approved Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, granting a waiver to exceed the 39 percent national TV ownership cap, allowing Nexstar to reach 80 percent of U.S. TV households under the "UHF discount."
- The merger, also approved by the DOJ, faces legal challenges from several state attorneys general who argue the FCC lacks authority to waive the ownership limit, asserting only Congress can change the cap.
- FCC Chairman Brendan Carr supported the deal, aligning with former President Trump’s endorsement and framing it as a move to increase competition against major national networks and enhance local news investment.
- Critics, including Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez and media advocacy groups, condemned the approval process for lacking
